Three departments are reorganizing and the city has hired several new employees.

The biggest change comes at the Youth Bureau: Department of Public Works and Parks Commissioner David Short also will take over management of the bureau.

Short will receive a $3,000 pay bump, making his salary $66,047 per year. Short has proven himself capable of the additional responsibilities, Mayor Robert Palmieri said.

“He’s been so successful running the DPW and Parks departments … it gives me the utmost confidence in the directions I want to head,” he said.

Lonnie Jenkins, who made $40,517 as the deputy parks and recreation commissioner, now is the new recreation director and earning $42,517 per year. Former Youth Bureau Director Sean Brown will serve as a recreation specialist; his salary was lowered to $33,517 from $40,517.

Also, Fred Sperry, the deputy commissioner under Short in both departments, will oversee the city’s infrastructure projects, with a salary increase from $47,598 to $49,598.

The move will free up interim Deputy City Engineer Michael Mahoney, who has overseen both the city’s engineering and facilities departments.

The city also hired two new employees.

* A legal intern, Merima Smajic, will start as a legal assistant at $38,000 a year. She cannot be hired as an attorney until she passes the state bar exam.

* Diane Shoemaker, the former director of community and economic development in Rome, has been hired to assist the city’s Urban and Economic Development department.

Shoemaker will work on a part-time, contractual basis, said Urban and Economic Development Commissioner Brian Thomas.

“She is going to assist us in looking for outside funding, such as grants, for project we already have on our slate,” he said.

Her contract is until the of the year, for $12,000.

All of the changes, except Shoemaker’s hiring, were approved during a special Board of Estimate and Apportionment meeting on Tuesday.

According to the city, the changes will not result in a total payroll increase due to recent retirements.